Patrick Laughlin Announces 2012 Soccer Schedule

Providence, RI- Brown University men's soccer coach Patrick Laughlin has recently announced his team's 2012 schedule. The 17-game slate features eight home games on the newly turfed Stevenson Field, and competitions against four 2011 NCAA Tournament selection.

The Bears, who competed in the Round of 16 at the NCAA Championships for two straight years, will begin their campaign at home against Rhode Island on Friday, Aug. 31, in the first game of the Ocean State Classic. Brown will then match up against Providence College or Bryant on Monday, Sept. 3 at URI to conclude the tournament.

"The 2012 schedule will challenge our team's strength and quality," said Laughlin. "The Ivy League will be one of the most competitive leagues in the country from top to bottom. In our non-conference schedule we will get a chance to test ourselves in three different tournaments and against tough regional opponents."

Brown will then host its annual Brown Soccer Classic featuring Cleveland State, Fordham and Siena College. Bruno will take on the Vikings of Cleveland State at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7, and will then take on the Rams from Fordham at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 9.

Bruno will hit the road for the next four games, taking on Boston University (Sept. 13), and Lehigh (Sept. 16) before heading west to compete at the University of Washington Tournament. Brown will take on Portland on Friday, Sept. 21 and will finish the tournament with host Washington on Sunday, Sept. 23.

The Bears will look to begin their quest for their 21st Ivy League title when the squad takes on Columbia at home on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. Brown then hosts non-conference opponent Fairfield on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 7 p.m., who the Bears knocked off in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Brown then heads to Princeton on Oct. 6, and hosts Harvard the following week (Oct. 13) at 7 p.m. The Bears will close out non-conference action at Boston College on Oct. 16, and will head back to Providence to challenge Ivy League foe Cornell on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 3:30 p.m.

Brown closes out its season with a match against Penn (Oct. 27), followed by a home game against Yale (Nov. 3). The Bears will end the year in Hanover, N.H. on Nov. 9 against Dartmouth, who lost to Providence College in the first round of the 2011 NCAA Tournament.